I have never signed anywhere that I have given land to the state -Chief Nkole
TIME PUBLISHED - Wednesday, April 4, 2012, 2:41 pm
A traditional ruler has ordered the Kapiri Mposhi District Council not to displace
his subjects from their farmlands in his chiefdom.Chief Nkole of the Swaka speaking people said the claim for part of the land of his chiefdom by the council is illegal adding that the local authority should not proceed to evicting his people from the land. The Chief revealed that the council has repossessed a 15 Km radius size of land from his chiefdom and was threatening to evict his subjects from the land in question.
In a statement to ZANIS today the Chief said he had not surrendered the said land to the government and accused the council of illegally grabbing part of his chiefdom land.
Chief Nkole stated that his subjects who are currently settled on the land were legally given the farm plots.
“I have never signed anywhere that I have given land to the state so do not displace my people from their farms on this land because those are their permanent farms given to them with permits”, Chief Nkole said.
He warned the Council to stop interfering into land issues in his chiefdom and not to undertake any land development works in the area without his permission.
“ I’m warning the council to stop interfering in my chiefdom land boundaries because their claims that I have given 15 Km radius land to the state is false. They should let my people stay in harmony on this land”, Chief Nkole said.
“ I’m warning the council to stop interfering in my chiefdom land boundaries because their claims that I have given 15 Km radius land to the state is false. They should let my people stay in harmony on this land”, Chief Nkole said.
This is also contained in a letter to the Council Secretary, Venture Kafula and copied to among others the Commissioner of Lands, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Traditional and Chiefs Affairs and Central Province Permanent Secretary.
But Kapiri Mposhi District Council has refuted claims from Chief Nkole that the local authority has grabbed land from his subjects.
Council Secretary, Venture Kafula said the council has just applied to the Royal Highness asking for the land in question and has not proceeded to evicting the settlers because the Chief has not yet consented to the request.
Mr Kafula said the council intends to acquire the land for developmental purposes and widening its jurisdiction boundaries.
The Council Secretary argued that the local authority has just taken over the administration of the land on which government recently constructed theDistrict Hospital, a Girls Technical School and Mushimbili Dam.
“We can’t grab traditional land without the approval of the Chief we follow the procedure that’s why we have applied to him for consent and we are waiting for him to approve”, Mr Kafula said.
ZANIS
Labels: FDI, KAPIRI MPOSHI, LAND RIGHTS
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Kapiri boos Rupiah
By Chibaula Silwamba in Kapiri Mposhi
Wed 14 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT
KAPIRI Mposhi residents booed and flashed red cards and the PF symbol at President Rupiah Banda while chanting "Pabwato! We want change! Don't kubeba!" as he drove off after his campaign rally at the town's main bus stop/market on Monday forcing his vehicle to switch lanes.
The Kapiri Mposhi residents, mostly male youths, gathered along the road, which President Banda was supposed to use going to the northern direction to board the helicopter on his way to Lusaka after addressing the rally.
Immediately after the President's motorcade started off, the residents closed the lane he was supposed to use as they chanted: "We want change! We want change! Pabwato! Pabwato! Don't kubeba!" The youths jumped around while raising the PF symbol (a clenched fist) in full view of the police officers.
As President Banda's vehicle approached, the youths advanced towards it while flashing red cards and brandishing the PF symbol at him. They covered the left lane, thereby forcing the driver to switch to the right lane.
There were some people that were flashing the PF symbol and red cards but in an orderly manner.
In response, President Banda flashed the MMD symbol at them.
At this point, presidential security aides jumped out of their vehicles to shield President Banda's vehicle and the entourage.
The security personal ran alongside President Banda's vehicle.
The cadres defied the police and presidential security detail as the booing grew louder after noticing the increase in the security personnel.
However, others slightly moved out of the road when the number of police officers increased but immediately after the cops passed, they went back on the road.
Even after President Banda's motorcade passed, the PF youths continued chanting their slogans and were joined by passengers in Mazhandu and Chembe buses that were passing. Several passing motorists joined in as they honked, flashed the PF symbol and chanted the PF slogan.
The flow of traffic was temporarily stopped as the "Don't Kubeba" youths sang and danced on the road.
The people that had attended President Banda's rally also joined in chanting PF slogans.
The chanting went on for over 30 minutes as the police looked on.
When contacted for a comment, Central Province police commanding officer Stella Libongani said: "There was no incident of an attempt to block the President.
But there was one arrest of a PF cadre who damaged a poster. The PF cadre, Joseph Kabwe is currently in police custody for malicious damage and will appear in court soon."
Addressing a sizeable rally earlier, President Banda spent most of the time talking about the PF's "Don't Kubeba" slogan, which he said was the opposition party's attempt to avoid telling the voters the policies it would implement if elected into government.
The crowd gave various responses as the President addressed the gathering.
Some people chanted the MMD's slogan of "pankoloko" while others defiantly, but in low tones, shouted: "Don't Kubeba".
A police officer was seen laughing as a woman with a baby on her back shouted: "Don't Kubeba! Oh, sorry, Pankoloko!" as the President spoke.
President Banda asked Kapiri electorates to vote for him and the MMD to continue implementing various development projects in health, education, infrastructure development and other sectors.
"You can vote for a party you know well, a party that you trust, a party that is doing real concrete work on behalf of Zambians; that is us the Movement for Multiparty Democracy," President Banda said.
"Or you can gamble with the opposition. Can Zambia really risk going backwards with the party that has no positive policies. When you ask them, they tell you rudely: ‘Don't Kubeba'. I don't know who advises my opponents about this ‘Don't Kubeba' nonsense but now they realise that the people want to know the issues on which we are to elect the people."
He called for violence-free campaigns and peace during voting and the post-election period.
President Banda urged MMD members not to succumb to provocation.
"They opposition parties are provoking you because they know they are going to lose; they are saying that after the elections if the MMD wins they will fight. They have no capacity even to fight. Once we have won, we are the majority and we shall ensure that this country continues in peace and unity," President Banda said.
"We want democratic campaigns. We don't want campaigns of threats of insults, of threatening violence, sharpening knives in the streets. Who do you want to fight? Your fellow Zambians? Those threats of violence are coming from people who don't believe in democracy."
And in Mkushi, President Rupiah Banda complained that some people wear his campaign T-shirts when going to steal.
And President Banda admitted that Michael Sata is a strong contender for the presidency in the September 20 elections.
Addressing a campaign rally in Mkushi in Central Province earlier in the morning on Monday, President Banda, who has widely distributed campaign t-shirts and chitenjes, complained that some people were wearing his campaign attires to cause fights and when stealing.
"There maybe some of us who are wearing this blue uniform in order to provoke people. If you see any MMD member starting a fight then you know he is not MMD. It's very easy to wear like I am wearing so that when I provoke a fight people can take pictures and say 'it was an MMD provocateur'. Don't provoke anyone. I repeat all this because of what I am reading in the reports, what I am hearing that some people want these elections to be full of violence. We must not accept that," President Banda said.
As the translator was interpreting his message that "some people collect RB 2011 t-shirt", President Banda chipped in saying: "nakuyo iba and go to steal!. They go stealing with my t-shirt."
He said Zambians want peaceful elections and he would ensure that the polls are violence-free.
"I have travelled round this country; the vast majority of Zambians want elections on the 20th of September and they want to be allowed to vote and we must respect the desire of the people of Zambia to have elections," President Banda said. "Don't accept to be provoked."
He said his government had delivered on most promises he made during the 2008 presidential by-elections and Zambians should give him a full five-year term to complete the development projects he started.
President said he and Sata were strong contenders for the Presidency.
"Tamakana!Tamakana! We are in a stiff competition. I will go everywhere and thank you for the prayers, both of us me and Sata are strong, we will see who will come in front on the 20th of September," said President Banda.
Sakwiba Sikota, leader of the United Liberal Party (ULP), urged Mkushi electorate to vote for President Banda and not Sata whom he said was uneducated and accused him of being fond of insults.
MMD parliamentary candidates for Mkushi South and Mkushi North Sydney Chisanga and Mutale Musonda, respectively, asked the voters to elect them and President Banda.
Labels: KAPIRI MPOSHI, PF, RUPIAH BANDA
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Tanzania legislation change affects business in Zambia
Written by Patson Chilemba
Sunday, September 06, 2009 6:57:26 PM
THE Dar-es-salaam Port logistics committee in Kapiri Mposhi has complained to Zambia's envoy in Tanzania to intervene in the matter where new legislation in Tanzania has affected the conduct of business in Zambia.
In a letter dated August 18, 2009, and jointly signed by the committee's chairman Chrispine Kasonde and secretary Darius Kapembwa, the committee stated that the Zambian communities had been facing difficulties in transporting transit goods from Dar-es-salaam to Kapiri Mposhi due to the change in legislation on the Tanzanian side. The committee stated that the current system required each and every importer transiting goods to hire a wagon or luggage van at a cost of US $3,100 and US $3,400.
"Those charges are beyond most importers who import petty consignments," the committee stated. "The transportation difficulties referred to above emanated from change of legislation by Tanzania Revenue Authority to bar importers from transporting transit goods from the port to TAZARA rail terminal using containerized trucks."
The committee stated that the change in legislation was as a result of concerns of revenue loss due to unscrupulous traders who purported to be transiting goods and yet they imported for the local market.
"It has come to our knowledge that this measure was intended to prevent loss of revenue on the part of TANZANIA REVENUE AUTHORITY (TRA). In the process of preventing loss of revenue, TANZANIA REVENUE AUTHORITY (TRA) introduced two measures. These are; (a) Loading and transportation of goods must be done at the port instead of taking goods to Tazara in containerized trucks," the committee stated. "(b) TAZARA management were instructed to set a bonded warehouse at their terminal to which goods shall be moved in bond and customs officers seconded to it for the purpose of managing it. TAZARA has already provided warehouse as instructed."
The committee stated that before the change of legislation, goods would be loaded in containerised trucks, which were sealed and taken to TAZARA terminal by customs officers, and all the transit documents would be prepared for each consignment.
"TAZARA and TANZANIA REVENUE AUTHORITY (TRA) officers would witness the offloading from trucks into TAZARA warehouse. TRA officers were not managing the warehouse and loading of cargo into luggage vans/wagons. Transportation charge was based on the actual weight the importer had," the committee stated.
The committee stated that now importers who hired wagons/vans had ended up incurring storage charges as they waited for other importers to consolidate goods in order to share the cost of hire.
The committee stated that it was therefore felt by the Zambian community that the TRA had not fulfilled its mandate of trade facilitation.
They stated that the new measures had resulted in sharp increase in the cost of transportation and other costs such as storage charges.
The committee stated that TRA had not seconded its staff to TAZARA bonded warehouse as per agreement, and that this was supposed to have been implemented by June 2009.
The committee stated that with the high unemployment and high cost of living in the country, citizens had diverted to conducting small businesses in the name of cross border trading in order to sustain themselves and their families.
"It is felt that the current system if continued will push a number of these small traders onto the streets. We therefore, appeal through your good office to request TRA immediately second officers to TAZARA bonded warehouse so as to re-introduce the old system of moving goods in containerized trucks from the port to TAZARA terminal (Bonded warehouse)," stated the committee.
The letter has also been copied to Zambia's communications and transport permanent secretary, Tanzania's ministry of infrastructure permanent secretary, TAZARA managing director, TRA commissioner, Tanzanian High Commissioner to Zambia and the regional generals managers for TAZARA.
Labels: BUSINESS, KAPIRI MPOSHI, TANZANIA
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Don’t sell products to briefcase buyers, Kapiri DC tells farmers
Written by Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:35:59 PM
KAPIRI Mposhi district commissioner Cosmas Musumpuka has advised farmers in the area not to sell their produce to briefcase buyers.
In an interview yesterday, Musumpuka explained that he was aware of briefcase businessmen that had entered the district and were currently buying maize cheaply.
He advised farmers to exercise patience and sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency at a better price.
“I have heard reports of briefcase businessmen that are buying farm produce at very low prices,” Musumpuka explained. “This is to the disadvantage of our small scale farmers who toil for their produce. I would advise the farmers to exercise patience and ensure that they sell their maize to FRA at a good price.”
He observed that it was difficult to convince the farmers to hold on to their produce until the Food Reserve Agency starts buying their maize, saying most small-scale farmers are forced to sell their produce at low prices due to poverty.
“I know it’s difficult to convince them to be patient; and it’s because of poverty,” he observed. “You know for our small-scale framers, this is their annual income and not monthly income, and they would want to meet daily needs and pay fees for their children.”
Musumpuka further attributed the problem to the delay in payments experienced by farmers in the past when they sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency, but was quick to note that the FRA had this year promised to pay farmers cash on delivery.
Last week during the District Agricultural and Commercial Show, Kapiri Mposhi district agricultural show chairman, Fredrick Musonda bemoaned the shortage of FRA depots to allow farmers sell their produce easily, saying this had resulted in many farmers falling prey to unscrupulous buyers who were buying agricultural produce at very low prices.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, KAPIRI MPOSHI, PRICING
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Kapiri teachers denounce national union leadership
Written by Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
Friday, June 19, 2009 2:56:41 PM
TEACHERS in Kapiri Mposhi on Tuesday unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in their national union leadership.
During a joint meeting on Tuesday held at Lukanda Basic School, the teachers however resolved to resume work, demanding that the national union leaders address them and explain on the just signed 15 per cent salary increment within 30 days.
“Zambia Nation Union of Teachers, Secondary Education Teachers Union of Zambia and the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia have accepted to go back for work on Wednesday 17th June 2009 on demands that the national union leadership come and address them as whole district by 16th July 2008 failure to which they shall withdraw their monthly contribution from the union,” they explained in a joint statement issued after the meeting.
“Kapiri Mposhi teachers have also expressed no confidence in their national union leadership, whom they have accused of misrepresenting them by signing for 15 per cent salary increment without consulting them.”
Meanwhile, police in Chingola have detained 15 pupils from different secondary and basic schools for three days on account of having taken part in a riot on Monday.
Parents of two teenage boys who were part of the group that was still in detention, said their children were by press time yesterday still in cells at Chingola Central Police Station without charge.
Evans Mwanza, father of a 15-year-old Chingola High School pupil, complained that police had since Tuesday been telling him and other parents that their children would be released after investigations against them were completed.
Mwanza, who spoke on behalf of other parents, demanded the release of the children.
He also complained that the children, most of whom were 15 years and below, were picked up after the riot.
And another parent, Mulenga Mwelwa, whose child is 13 years old demanded the immediate release of his child and others in detention.
And when contacted, Copperbelt police commanding officer Antoneil Mutentwa confirmed that the pupils were in detention but said they were being released after paying the admission of guilt fine for conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Labels: KAPIRI MPOSHI, TEACHERS
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‘Society is relying on women as unpaid labour’
Written by Agness Changala Kapiri Mposhi
Sunday, March 22, 2009 6:30:39 PM
KAPIRI Mposhi district commissioner Comas Musumpuka has said society is increasingly relying on women as unpaid labour to fill the gaps left by those who had retired.
Officiating at this year's International Women's Day organised by Women for Change in Kapiri Mposhi, Musumpuka said the work women performed without any income retarded their development.
Musumpuka said care giving for a long time had also been seen as a role for women and girls and this had taken away most of their time when they needed to be productive.
He said as a result, he saw the need for concerted efforts to reach every rural area in Zambia in terms of economic empowerment by sensitising men and women on issues of human rights and encourage them to work together in order to achieve progress.
He urged other non-governmental organisation to take a leaf from Women for Change to direct their efforts in rural areas as most of them were concentrated in urban areas.
Musumpuka urged Kampumbe residents to translate International Women's Day theme which is 'Women and Men Equal Partners in HIV/AIDS' care giving, into reality.
"Through experience we have gathered at various forum and begin to talk about issues, when we disperse, we even forget about it," said Musumpuka. "Now I want to remind that from today, let's stop that altitude and begin to practice what we learn."
And Musumpuka wondered what had become of men to continue having sexual intercourse with minors.
Commenting on the increasing number of defilement cases in the country, Musumpuka said it was disheartening that every time one read the paper, there was a story on defilement, adding that most of them were toddlers.
"How are we men? Are you not ashamed to be on top of your own daughters? he asked.
Musumpuka urged all mothers to report such matters to police immediately.
And chief Mukonchi said women from nightclubs were a lot easier to get along with and consequently have sex with them than defiling a child.
"With those, before you can even propose, they even come to you," he said. "So why should someone show animosity to a child?" he asked.
Labels: COMAS MUSUMPUKA, KAPIRI MPOSHI, WFC, WOMEN
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‘Kapiri hasn’t received compound D fertiliser’
Written by Isaac Zulu in Kapiri Mposhi
Friday, January 09, 2009 5:37:51 AM
KAPIRI Mposhi agricultural coordinator Emmanuel Chileshe
has disclosed that the district has not received about 6,000 bags of compound D fertiliser under the government’s subsidised Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
Reacting to area member of parliament Friday Malwa who challenged him to explain why his office was distributing Urea before the basal fertiliser to farmers, Dr Chileshe explained that his office had worked on all necessary documentation relating to the distribution of farming inputs but the other players involved in the distribution exercise had not yet done their part.
Dr Chileshe explained that currently, Nyiombo Investments Limited was playing a dual role of warehouse manager and supplier of the farming inputs.
“Nyiombo Investments Limited is the warehouse manager and supplier of farming inputs this season. And as I speak, about 6,000 by 50 kilogram bags of D-compound fertiliser is not yet distributed to farmers,” Dr Chileshe said. “This commodity is not even in the district yet; and this is not of my own making.”
He further explained that apart from being the supplier for Kapiri Mposhi, Nyiombo Investments Limited has a responsibility of supplying farming inputs to Mumbwa, Ndola and some parts of North Western province as well.
Dr Chileshe also said the fertiliser distribution exercise under the FSP had stressed his office, adding that his department had found itself in an awkward position explaining the situation to cooperatives and individual farmers.
“I am so incapacitated at the moment, but we have time and again explained the position we have found ourselves in to our farmers,” said Dr Chileshe. “And as Ministry of Agriculture, we are really saddened that yields for poor farmers will be adversely affected by this fertiliser distribution exercise.”
Last Friday, Kapiri Mposhi member of parliament Friday Malwa challenged the district agricultural coordinator to explain to farmers why the government subsidised fertiliser distribution commenced with urea and not Compound D (Basal) fertiliser.
Labels: EMMANUEL CHILESHE, FERTILIZER, KAPIRI MPOSHI
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